Brand new newbie

[JAZZCNC]

Instead of that I'd be tempted to think about a plywood fire door cut in two.

What.!!! . . .Plywood Fire door cut in two is only any good has Fire wood.! . . . . No wood based machine could compare to same or similar designed machine built from aluminium just like an Aluminium based machine of same design couldn't compare to Cast iron machine of same design so that's just silly suggestion to me.

[njhussey]

Your aluminium base at 50.6 kg isn't that much of a saving in terms of weight over a steel base frame. My base is 1300 x 700 and I'm making it out of 4mm thick steel. The calculated weight of mine (from the steel stockholder's data book) is 74.4kg and the cost of the steel (I've got 1m of 50x50 box, 2.5m of 50x25box and 4.9m of 100x50 box left over for other projects from the 7.5m lengths I purchased.) is £95. If your mates can weld then steel is much easier to weld than Aluminium and much cheaper which I'd have thought is a driving factor?

How are you thinking of connecting the ballscrew (if you're thinking of one central one) to the gantry sides? You'll need to raise the box up on legs (additional weight and cost) to do it with that layout?
Can you not use a steel base out of 3mm thick steel (to save weight) like the below?

[EddyCurrent]

What.!!! . . .Plywood Fire door cut in two is only any good has Fire wood.! . . . . No wood based machine could compare to same or similar designed machine built from aluminium just like an Aluminium based machine of same design couldn't compare to Cast iron machine of same design so that's just silly suggestion to me.

You are correct, I just went to the other extreme, I can't help thinking it's a bit over the top for a base on this size of machine.

[Grit monkey]

Thank you for taking the time to reply guys.

On reflection, I think with the Aluminium design I was thinking more form over function. So from here on in it's definitely only function!

Neil, I like your design, in particular the short legs, which would be helpful getting the machine base into the room where it's going to be used.
While It would be a rarity to be cutting any non ferrous would I need so many supports along the x axis?

Jazz,

When you say Ali bed, do you mean plate or the extrusion?

Cheers.

[JAZZCNC]

When you say Ali bed, do you mean plate or the extrusion?

Was meaning Ali plate but either would work ok.

Martin If you want to see the machine I talk about in last post then get in touch. It's nearly finished but not moving just yet has i'm still doing electrics but will be going to it's new owner in a few weeks time so let me know and will try to arrange before it goes.

This machine will do every thing you want easily and when you see how strong you'll have a better under standing of where to go.

[Grit monkey]

Thank you for your offer Jazz, I've sent you an Email.